TALK about being thrown in at the deep end! New loan signing Vashon Neufville admits he had no idea that Newport County AFC were due to take on former Premier League champions Leicester City before he joined the club last week.

The 19-year-old Londoner had only been to Wales once before – to play for England under-16s in the Victory Shield – and County were not even on his radar.

But Neufville agreed to join the Exiles last Friday and met his new teammates for the first time at training the following day.

And he was only informed on Sunday morning that he’d be starting in the FA Cup third-round clash with Leicester that afternoon, in a match that was watched by 5.3million people on BBC One.

After an understandably shaky start, the teenager excelled against the 2016 title-winners and it was his cross that was handled by Foxes midfielder Marc Albrighton and allowed Padraig Amond to seal a famous win from the penalty spot.

It’s not a bad way to mark your debut in senior football, and Neufville is relishing the prospect of making his Football League bow at Crewe Alexandra tomorrow.

Summing up his whirlwind week, the young left-back explained: “I found out about the move on the Friday morning. I was supposed to train [at West Ham] but I got told not to and to get ready to go on loan.

“I hadn’t really heard of Newport and I’d only been to Wales once before – for a Wales v England game in the Victory Shield.

“I didn’t even know about the cup game until I got down here.

“I arrived on Friday night, trained on Saturday and got told I was starting on Sunday morning.

“I tried to stay calm. I rang my parents. It was sold out but I managed to get them some tickets.

“It was a crazy experience. The crowd was amazing and it was a good feeling when my cross led to the penalty. I’ve watched it on the iPlayer a few times!

“It was a good game to start off with,” he added. “We made history and it doesn’t get much better than that."

“I enjoyed every minute of it and I can’t wait for the next game now.

“I want to start at Crewe. It will be my first league game, which would be big for me. We’re playing for points now.

“We’re seven points off the play-offs [with a game in hand] so hopefully we can push for that.”

Regular left-back Dan Butler is back from suspension and will expect to reclaim his starting spot at Gresty Road.

But Exiles boss Michael Flynn says he could fit both Butler and Neufville in the same team and the young Hammer is happy to play further forward if required.

“I’m loving it so far,” he said. “I’ve just got to train hard and hopefully stay in the team. I can play anywhere on the left side, really.

“I want to get as many appearances as I can in League football and then push on back at West Ham.

“At the start of this season I wanted to go out on loan but I got injured. I tore my PCL [posterior cruciate ligament] and I was out for five months.

“It wasn't easy to come back from and I wasn't that sharp when I came back but I feel better now."

Neufville is also getting used to living away from the family home for the first time, with teammates Joss Labadie and Tyler Forbes looking after him in their shared house.

“It’s very different from West Ham but I’m getting used to it and everyone has welcomed me warmly,” he said.

“I’m with Tyler and Joss at the house and they’ve been looking after me and cooking for me.

“Joss has cooked us fajitas and shepherd’s pie so far.

“It’s not as good as my mum’s cooking – I like Caribbean food – but it’s great.”